ALLOMETRYQuantitative relation between a part and the whole or another part as the organism increases in size (represented by body mass), or in a series of related organisms that differ in size (represented by body mass).

CAPILLARYSmall vessel of both the circulatory and lymphatic systems enclosed by a single-layer wall (the minimum diameter of which is supposed to be determined by the dimensions of particles of the passing fluid).

FLUIDAggregate of matter in which the particles are able to flow past each other without limit and without fracture planes forming, and in which shear stress caused by deformation is gradually removed by flow.

METABOLISMSum of all chemical and accompanying physical processes that serve for resorption, transformation and excretion of substances necessary for maintenance of structure and function of an organism.

ORGANISMBiological system consisting of one cell or of a group of differentiated interdependent cells or organs, physically separated from its surroundings, and autonomously exerting vital functions using energy transformed endogenicly by metabolism.

TENSEGRITYProperty of self-stabilization of a mechanical system which is composed of supporting elements under compressive force which are connected with each other by tensed-up materially coherent elements under tensile force. Note: The term "tensegrity", created by R. B. Fuller (1895-1983), refers to "tension" and "integrity".

VISCOELASTICITYProperty of a material which is viscous but also exhibits certain elastic properties (such as the ability to store energy of deformation), and in which the application of stress gives rise to strain that approaches slowly its equilibrium value.

WOLFF'S LAWHypothesis that states that in an organism under long-term increasing load additional supporting substance (bone, chitin, cellulose) is locally laid down (apposition) where it is needed; bone can also be resorbed when load is decreasing (resorption).

CROSS BRIDGETemporary, flexible molecular connection of (myosin) filaments and (actin) filaments parallel to each other, triggered by activation of musclefibre able to cause longitudinal sliding motion of the filaments under effect of inner-molecular bending forces.

DISTRIBUTION [MUSCLE CO-OPERATING] PROBLEMCalculation of internal forces (including muscle forces) acting on the skeletal system in joints using the known resultant joint forces and moments. (The problem usually is statically indeterminate; the approach used most often to solve it is mathematical optimisation).

FORCE-VELOCITY CHARACTERISTICGraph showing a decrease of tension as muscle shortens and increase as it lengthens; it must be measured as muscle shortens or lengthens at a given muscle length and at a given level of muscle activation.

MUSCLE, CARDIACMuscle that constitutes the walls of the heart and is composed of a network of branching elongated cells (fibres) whose junctions with neighbouring cells are marked by irregular transverse bands and the contractions of which are multiaxially directed.

MUSCLE, PHYSIOLOGICAL CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA (PCA) OFSum of the cross-sections of all fibres of a muscle, determined by a face that orthogonally intersects the individual longitudinal axes of all fibres.

MUSCLE, SMOOTH [INVOLUNTARY], [VISCERAL]Muscle that is composed of spindle-shaped cells within a network of connective tissue and under control of the autonomous nervous system produces slow long-term contractions of which the individual is unaware.

MUSCLE, SKELETAL [VOLUNTARY] [STRIATED]Muscle attached to the skeleton, responsible for the movement of bones under voluntary control and composed of parallel bundles of multinucleate fibres which reveal cross-banding when viewed by optically magnifying means.

JOINT, PLANAR CONTACTDiarthrosis in which the articulating surfaces of the bones are contacting in a common plane and allow small translational movements in this plane and angular movement about an axis perpendicular to it.

JOINT, SADDLEDiarthrosis in which both the articulating surfaces of the bones are reciprocally saddle-shaped, contacting each other at the bottom of the saddle and allowing relative angular movements about two main axes.

SKELETON, HYDRO- [HYDROSTATIC]Compliant supporting structure composed of closed liquid-filled chambers enclosed by contractive tissue that gives form to the structure and withstands muscleforces due to their hydrostatic pressure (as in coelenterata).

ATTACK, ANGLE OF1. Angle between the longitudinal axis of a body and the direction of the fluid flow. 2. Angle between the straight line through the center of mass and the ground contact point of a body and its projection to the ground.

IDIOMOTIONAutonomous, internally driven change of posture of human beings or animals during which base of support and centre of mass of the body are not displaced or displaced within limits small in relation to body size.

LOCOMOTION, PEDAL [LEGGED]Locomotion by means of legs which are regularly lifted off, and put down on, the ground under variation of the relative angle between the longitudinal axes of the individual legs and the trunk.

LOCOMOTION, PERISTALTICLocomotion of a flexible and tensile tubular body of segments of a hydroskeleton, in which each segment is deformed alternately by circularly and longitudinally acting muscles whose interaction passes metachronally along the trunk (e.g. locomotion of an earth worm)

LOCOMOTION, SERPENTINEUndulatory locomotion of a flexible, tubular, segmented body with endoskeleton, in which each segment is deformed transversely by axially acting muscles whose action alternately and regularly bends the longitudinal axis of the body and passes metachronally along the trunk (e.g. locomotion of a snake).

METACHRONALOf or pertaining to a wave of successive events of the same kind (particularly to a wave of muscular contraction passing over the body surface of certain animals by means of which locomotion is accomplished).